Railway switch target

ABSTRACT

A knockdown-type target which can be readily packaged for handling and sale and which can be easily assembled for quick installation atop the turnable shaft of a stationary railway switch stand. It comprises a rod which provides a spindle whose upper end is provided with circumferentially spaced keeper slots for the slotted interconnected right angularly disposed distinguishably colored target blades. The upper screw threaded terminal of the spindle is provided with a cap-nut which maintains the replaceable blades in their set positions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Willie R. McCain P.O. Box 456, Fort Pierce, Fla. 33450 [21 1 Appl. No. 3,027 [22] Filed Jim 15, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [54] RAILWAY SWITCH TARGET 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 11.5. CI 246/476 [51] Int. Cl..... B611 5/14 [50] Field of Search 246/470-476; 116/29, 18, 43; 29/160; 46/30, 31, 53, 58; 287/20; 248/88 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,734 10/1928 Miller 246/476 1,883,214 10/1932 Wilson et al. 46/31 1,062,014 5/1913 Kidd et al. 246/476 3,097,002 7/1963 Phillips... 287/20 (R) 2,423,648 7/1947 Hansell.... 29/160 1,760,847 5/1930 McGarry 246/476 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant ExaminerRichard A. Bertsch Attorneys-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A knockdown-type target which can be readily packaged for handling and sale and which can be easily assembled for quick installation atop the turnable shaft of a stationary railway switch stand. it comprises a rod which provides a spindle whose upper end is provided with circumferentially spaced keeper slots for the slotted interconnected right angularly disposed distinguishably colored target blades. The upper screw threaded terminal of the spindle is provided with a capnut which maintains the replaceable blades in their set positions.

RAILWAY swrrcrr TARGET This invention relates to a railway target construction which is designed and adapted to replace currently outmoded lampstyle and nonreflectorized switch targets and has to do, more particularly, with a simplified adaption characterized by an easy-to-install spindle, conspicuous target blades and means for assembling and mounting said blades atop the spindle to provide a cruciform switch position indicating head.

By way of introduction and for background purposes, it is significant to point out here that it is a generally accepted fact that the railway industry requires a switch target which is such in construction that it can replace the now outmoded switch lamp as well as currently used nonreflecting target heads. To be unhesitatingly endorsed the herein disclosed switch target must be susceptible of being quickly and reliably installed on existing type switch stands. It must be and is simple and practical in construction, virtually foolproof and the target blades quickly and easily replaceable. It follows that it is an object of the present invention to provide a target construction which is such in design and adaptability that it will serve the needs for which it has been devised and perfected, as will be hereinafter more fully revealed.

Briefly, the switch target herein comprehended comprises four simple and economical component parts capable of being safely and reliably packaged for handling and transportation and capable of being assembled and installed on the switch stand without requiring alteration of the existing parts of the stand. One part comprises a rod of requisite length and crosssection which provides a spindle. The lower end of this rod is apertured and is adapted to be telescopically fitted in a socket provided therefore on the upper end of the shaft of the stand. This lower end is pinned in place. The upper end of the rod or spindle is provided with appropriate slot means to accommodatingly position and support the cruciform head means. This head means comprises a pair of proportionally similar target blades having oriented coacting median portions which are operatively joined to and are actuatable in unison with the upper slotted end of the spindle. These two companion blades are disposed in positions at right angles to each other and are circumferentially spaced. One blade is of a prescribed marginal configuration and of a prescribed color and designates the open switch position The other blade is likewise of a prescribed marginal configuration and is distinguishable from the first named blade and is also of a predetermined color, white or green for example, and designates the closed switch position.

More specifically, the slot means is characterized by longitudinal crisscrossed slots which open through the peripheral sides and also through the extremity of the upper end and provide equidistant circumferentially spaced keeper seats. The coacting median portions of the blades have interlocking kerfs and these interlocked portions are retentively but removably lodged in the respectively cooperable keeper seats in a manner that the respective half-portions of the blades radiate outwardly and cooperatively from the vertical axis of the spindle. The blades have centralized upper marginal edges which are disposed in a common plane and are held in a set position by a holddown cap nut.

In carrying out the principles of the invention the respective blades are flat are properly slotted so that they can be separably and replaceably interconnected. The flat faces allow for flat face machine masking and baking with a reflectorized plastic film. By interlocking the blades the plastic film protects the aluminum blade proper from touching the steel or equivalent rod or spindle, thus eliminating corrosive deterioration. Accordingly, the assembly is capable of being shipped to locations as four simple parts and quickly assembled, the cap nut permitting damaged blades to be removed and replaced whenever necessary or desired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an upper portion of a conventional type railway switch stand and showing, more particularly, the improved and assembled attachment, that is the cruciform head and cap nut positioning and holding the target blades in place.

FIG. 2 is a view in section and elevation taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the aforementioned component parts which when assembled make up the target shown in FIG. 1.

The railway stand fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1 is denoted by the numeral 6 and embodies a vertical standard 8 in which the usual shaft 10 is mounted for vertical disposition and rotation. This shaft is provided with an accessible upstanding socket member 12 with which the improved attachment-type switch target is cooperatively associated.

The aforementioned rod is denoted by the numeral 14 and provides the desired spindle. The lower end portion is denoted at 16 and is provided with a passage 18 to accommodate the fastening or anchoring pin 20. In practice this apertured end of the spindle is fitted telescopingly into the socket portion 22 of the socket member, the wall of the socket member being provided with holes 23 to accommodate the driven fitted pin 20. The intermediate portion of the spindle is denoted at 24. The upper end portion is denoted at 26 and is provided with longitudinal slot means. More specifically this slot means comprises a pair of crisscrossed slots which define longitudinal equidistant circumferentially spaced blade seating slots which for sake of convenience are designated at 28. These slots are of requisite dimension and the upper ends open through the upper extremity 30 of the spindle as denoted at 32 in FIG. 4. In addition to the slot means, more particularly the slots 28, it will be noted that the terminal upper end portion 30 of the spindle is externally screw-threaded as at 34 to accommodate coating internal screw threads 36 on the rim portion of an assembling holddown retainer, here designated as a cap nut 38.

The slots 28 serve to accommodate the two right angularly disposed target blades one of which is denoted by the numeral 40 and the other one by the numeral 42. These arms or blades are cut to a configuration desired and are perfectly smooth and flat on opposite sides and the desired masking material (not detailed) is applied to the flat surfaces. These blades are of standard sign material, allodized aluminum, and configuration but may vary according to specific railway requirements. One blade 40 is substantially diamond shaped and is red or yellow and the entire surfaces are coated with Scotch-lite" reflective sheeting or plastic coating. The terminal ends are curved or rounded as at 44 and the centralized upper edge portion is substantially flat or straight as denoted at 46 as is the bottom centralized edge portion 48. A centered kerf 50 is provided in the lower half portion and opens through the bottom edge portion 48 and is alignable and cooperable with a similar centered kerf 52 provided in the median portion 54 of the second blade 42 and opening through the upper edge thereof. This blade 42 is likewise made of allodized aluminum completely covered or coated with Scotchlite" reflective sheeting and it has upper and lower straight longitudinal edges 56 and 58. The respective ends are rounded as at 60 and the over-all blade is substantially ovate in appearance. Both blades are comparably proportional so that when they are interrelated at right angles and seated in their prescribed slots 28 they provide the cruciform head desired. The manner in which the downwardly and upwardly opening kerfs 50 and 52 are positioned and interlocked is believed to be apparent from the showing made in FIGS. 1 and 2. Manifestly the keeper 28 are of requisite length to accommodate the connected portions of the two blades 40 and 42. Also, the width of the blades is such that the screw-threaded neck or upper end 34 projects above the upper coacting or mating edges to accommodatingly receive the holddown and clamping cap nut 38. The manner in which this clamp nut is applied and used is believed to be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular. The component parts are of requisite material and are properly standardized in dimension and shape to allow normal fitting and replacement requirements. In fact slotting of the spindle is dimensioned to allow for a wedge fit of the blades in the slots so that the cap nut is applied and retained with requisite certainty and nicety. By slotting and interlocking the blades the plastic film protects the aluminum blades from touching the steel of the rod or spindle thus eliminating corrosive deterioration. The assembly is shipped to a location in four simple easyto-assemble parts. Replacing damaged blades requires removal only of the locking cap as is believed to be selfevident. The manner in which the component parts are constructed individually and collectively and also the manner in which they are assembled and held in place and installed is believed to be evident from the description and views of the drawing. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

1. For use atop the upper end of the vertical rotatable shaft of a railway switch stand, a composite knockdown switch target comprising, in combination, a rigid rod of prescribed length and cross-sectional dimension having a lower end portion adapted to be telescopingly fitted and securely anchored in a socket provided therefor in the upper end of said shaft, said rod constituting a spindle, said rod having an upper end portion provided with longitudinal crisscrossing slots, said slots being of equal length, opening through the extreme upper end of said rod and also opening through outer peripheral surfaces of said rod and providing equidistant circumferentially spaced keeper seats, cruciform head means comprising a first blade which is flat faced, has straight upper and lower longitudinal edges and rounded ends and is accordingly substantially ovate in overall appearance, said blade having a median portion fitted in keeper seats provided therefor and having like half-portions radiating outwardly from the axis of said rod, said median portion having a vertical kerf opening through said upper longitudinal edge, a second flat-faced blade complemental to said first blade, said second blade being approximately diamond shaped in appearance and proportional in size with said first blade, having limited centralized upper and lower straight edge portions matching and flush with oriented areas of the upper and lower edges of said first blade and which are fitted into keeper seats provided therefor, the lower median portion of said second blade having a vertical kerf opening through said lower straight edge portion and aligned and interlocked with said first named vertical kerf and having like half-portions also radiating outwardly from the axis of said rod, said rod having an upper end portion projecting upwardly and beyond the adjacent upper edges of said blades, and an assembling and retaining member carried by said upper projecting end and clamping and retaining said blades in their oriented coacting relationship.

2. The switch target defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said upper end portion is externally screwthreaded and also wherein said retaining member comprise an internally screw-threaded cap-nut, said cap-nut being screwed on said screw-threaded upper end portion and being clampingly engaged with coacting upper edge portions of said first and second blades in a manner to assemble and secure said blades in head-forming relationship.

3. The switch target defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said blades are made of aluminum and are each wholly covered with reflectorized plastic material, said first blade being of a predetermined color, red or yellow for example, and designating an open switch, and said second blade being likewise of a predetermined color, white or green for example, and designating a closed switch.

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1. For use atop the upper end of the vertical rotatable shaft of a railway switch stand, a composite knockdown switch target comprising, in combination, a rigid rod of prescribed length and cross-sectional dimension having a lower end portion adapted to be telescopingly fitted and securely anchored in a socket provided therefor in the upper end of said shaft, said rod constituting a spindle, said rod having an upper end portion provided with longitudinal criss-crossing slots, said slots being of equal length, opening through the extreme upper end of said rod and also opening through outer peripheral surfaces of said rod and providing equidistant circumferentially spacEd keeper seats, cruciform head means comprising a first blade which is flat faced, has straight upper and lower longitudinal edges and rounded ends and is accordingly substantially ovate in overall appearance, said blade having a median portion fitted in keeper seats provided therefor and having like half-portions radiating outwardly from the axis of said rod, said median portion having a vertical kerf opening through said upper longitudinal edge, a second flat-faced blade complemental to said first blade, said second blade being approximately diamond shaped in appearance and proportional in size with said first blade, having limited centralized upper and lower straight edge portions matching and flush with oriented areas of the upper and lower edges of said first blade and which are fitted into keeper seats provided therefor, the lower median portion of said second blade having a vertical kerf opening through said lower straight edge portion and aligned and interlocked with said first named vertical kerf and having like half-portions also radiating outwardly from the axis of said rod, said rod having an upper end portion projecting upwardly and beyond the adjacent upper edges of said blades, and an assembling and retaining member carried by said upper projecting end and clamping and retaining said blades in their oriented coacting relationship.
 2. The switch target defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said upper end portion is externally screw-threaded and also wherein said retaining member comprises an internally screw-threaded cap-nut, said cap-nut being screwed on said screw-threaded upper end portion and being clampingly engaged with coacting upper edge portions of said first and second blades in a manner to assemble and secure said blades in head-forming relationship.
 3. The switch target defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said blades are made of aluminum and are each wholly covered with reflectorized plastic material, said first blade being of a predetermined color, red or yellow for example, and designating an open switch, and said second blade being likewise of a predetermined color, white or green for example, and designating a closed switch. 